Festival Workshops
SNNW 2026 Schedule-at-a-glance (print or download)
Sean-nós Northwest offers enriching, hands-on workshops on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Registration is required for these workshops, but registrants can choose independently which workshops to attend. Each day there are two AM workshop blocks of roughly 1.5 hours each (punctuated by a long lunch break) followed by one PM workshop block (also roughly 1.5 hours). During these blocks of time, there will be at least one workshop offered in each of the following cultural practices:
Sean-nós singing (amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós)
Sean-nós and vernacular dancing (damhsa ar an sean-nós agus damhsa dúchasach)
Irish language* (An Ghaeilge)
Traditional instrumental music (both performance techniques and tunes)
Culture (storytelling, poetry, craft, etc.)
There is also at least one workshop offered in each of these blocks that is appropriate for beginners. We encourage participants new to SNNW to explore as many of the cultural practices on offer as one can in order to gain foundational knowledge. However, you may choose to focus on one practice that particularly speaks to your heart. Masterclasses for participants with advanced skills may also be offered. Further information on these masterclasses will be provided at the event itself.
*The Irish language is given special reverence at SNNW as it is the root of many of the cultural practices showcased at our festival. We invite you to engage with the language at a level that feels comfortable to you while encouraging curiosity and playfulness in learning basic phrases useful in a social setting.
Emma O’Sullivan teaches a dance class (photo by Angeline LeLeux)
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Thursday night - Community EVENT
Oíche na n-Amhrán | The Night of Song (7:00 - 10:00 pm) at T. C. O’Leary’s Pub, 2926 NE Alberta St, Portland OR 97211.
This intimate night of (mostly) singing will feature the festival’s guest singers as well as opportunities for participants and locals to share their own party pieces. Social starts at 7pm and singing at 8pm.
Friday night - community event
Community Céilí Mór (6:00 - 9:00 pm) at the Historic Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211
Whether you're committed to your dance practice or curious about Irish social dancing in general, our community céilí is an opportunity for you to mix with our local set-dancing community as well as other festival participants. Live calling and music will make this a memorable evening to get your warmed up for the workshops over the weekend. (Sponsored by Portland Set Dancing)
SATURDAY & SUNDAY - WORKSHOPS & COMMUNITY EVENTS
AM/PM Workshops (9:30 am - 3:30 pm) at Portland Community College - Sylvania Campus, 12000 SW 49th Ave, Portland OR 97219
See the schedule (below) and list of festival guests to determine which workshops might work for you. This is your chance to work intimately with some of the best proponents of these traditions found anywhere. There are several levels of passes for purchase that include all events/workshops, all weekend workshops, and single-day workshops. Choose what works for you. Staffing and complimentary tea and coffee at the workshop venue kindly sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest.
What would a festival be without some festive Community Events? Come join us after the workshops are through on Saturday from 4:30 - 6:30 pm for barrel-dancing and half-door dancing exhibitions (sponsored by Maldon Meehan Dance) at Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub 112 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204. Likewise, after Sunday’s workshops, join us from 4:30 - 6:30 pm for an intimate close to the festival at a singing circle (sponsored by Oíche na nAmhrán | Night of Song) to be held at T. C. O’Leary’s 2926 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211. These events are free and open to the public.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
What Should I Bring And Wear?
This is a casual festival, therefore, dress for comfort. However, since it is May in the Pacific Northwest, we recommend you wear layers to account for the ever-changing weather. We also recommend that you bring paper and a writing implement, an audio/video recording device, a refillable water bottle, and snacks to accommodate your nutritional needs between workshops . Complimentary tea and coffee are on offer and graciously sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest. If you're enrolled in dance workshops, please bring non-marking, low-heeled, slick-bottomed shoes (e.g. character shoes, leather or plastic-soled dress shoes). No metal taps or fiberglass-tipped Irish step-dancing shoes. The shoe types suggested really do make a difference to your learning experience, so take these suggestions into serious consideration, please.
What About Lunch?
SNNW does not provide lunch to participants. However, feel free to bring your own lunch with you but be aware there may not be amenities to reheat or cook food at the festival venue. The venue is conveniently located, so you may choose to head out on foot to the many eateries and food carts in the neighborhood.
health note!
Singing, dancing, and playing wind instruments are all high-transmission activities related to COVID-19. To avoid a superspreading event, we ask all attendees to acknowledge their personal responsibility regarding public health and best practices utilized to keep everyone safe. These practices include vaccination against COVID-19, not attending the event if feeling unwell, testing before the event to assure a non-positive COVID-19 result, and wearing a mask to protect oneself against transmission of disease - especially if you are particularly vulnerable to disease. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine!
DAILY SCHEDULE (updated 5/10)
| 9:00 am - 9:30 am | Check-in at the desk, grab a cuppa, and head to the auditorum for welcome! (Sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest) |
| 9:30 am - 11:00 am | Workshop 1 Gaeilge: Irish for beginners w/Denis Singing: Máirín's favorite songs in Irish Dancing: Beginning sean-nós reels w/Maldon Music: *Tune learning w/Seán Culture: Athghabháil na hÉireann: Resistance to Extraction in Ireland w/Pilib |
| 11:00 am - 12:30 pm | Workshop 2 Gaeilge: Advanced Irish w/Niall Singing: Singing circle w/David from Portland Folk Music Society Dancing: Sean-nós jigs w/Alicia Music: An introdcution to great musical personalities w/Colin Culture: Folklore and Irish drama w/Holly from Corrib Theatre |
| 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Lunch on your own |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Workshop 3 Gaeilge: Irish for learners w/Denis Singing: Songs in English w/Máirín Dancing: Set-dancing fundamentals w/Maldon Music: ^Fiddle technique w/Seán Culture: Willow weaving w/Erin from Rewild Portland |
| 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Break |
| 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Halfdoor & Barrel Dancing Exhibition (Sponsored by Maldon Meehan Dance) Kells Irish Restaurant 112 SW 2nd Ave. Downtown Portland |
| From 6:30 pm onward | Dinnéar, craic, ceol, is damhsa! |
*Suitable for all instruments. ^For fiddle only.
| 9:00 am - 9:30 am | Check-in, grab a cuppa, chat, and head to your workshop! (Sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest) |
| 9:30 am - 11:00 am | Workshop 4 Gaeilge: Irish for learners w/Denis Singing: Sean-nós singers and songs w/Máirín Dancing: Advanced sean-nós reels w/Maldon Music: *An indepth look at playing slides w/Colin Culture: Fiannaíocht (Stories of the Fenians) w/Dubhán |
| 11:00 am - 12:30 pm | Workshop 5 Gaeilge: Irish for beginners w/Niall Singing: Lays (Songs of the Fenians) w/Genevieve Dancing: Old-style hornpipes w/Alicia Music: *Tune variations w/Seán Culture: Traditional plants & seasonal festivals of old Ireland w/Madrone from Hedgerow Herb Co. |
| 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Lunch on your own |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Workshop 6 Gaeilge: Advanced Irish w/Denis Singing: Elements of sean-nós style w/Máirín Dancing: The Cú Chulainn Set w/Maldon Music: *Tune learning w/Seán Culture: Willow weaving w/Erin from Rewild Portland |
| 3:35 pm - 4:30 pm | Break |
| 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm | The Big Sing (Sponsored by Oíche na nAmhrán | Night of Song) T.C. O'Leary's Pub 2926 NE Alberta St. | From 6:30 pm onward | Dinnéar, craic, ceol, is damhsa agus slán abhaile! (Until next year) |
*Suitable for all instruments.